1967 Martin D-28

1967 Martin D-28

The D-28 has been Martin's flagship model almost since it received a 14 fret neck in 1934. The Rosewood back and sides and long scale length make this a powerful, loud and...
Another 1956 Fender Deluxe

Another 1956 Fender Deluxe

The Fender Deluxe (5e3 circuit) is the quintessential vintage amplifier.  If you're a gear head then a 5e3 Deluxe is probably somewhere in your future, if not your present. Why...
1963 Epiphone Coronet Silver Fox

1963 Epiphone Coronet Silver Fox

It's hard to beat a hot Gibson P-90, a wrap tail and a slab of Mahogany.  1963 was the first year of the batwing headstock and the custom color they...
1943 Gibson J-45 Banner headstock

1943 Gibson J-45

This 1943 Gibson J-45 came to me in the original case with zero prior repairs.  The bridge had pulled up and the bridge plate had puckered a bit so I...
1966 Gibson ES-330

1966 Gibson ES-330

Here's another ES-330 that I was lucky to babysit for a time.  This one was made in Kalamazoo, MI in 1966 but had been played very little before I snagged...
1949 Gibson Southern Jumbo

1949 Gibson Southern Jumbo

In 1942 the folks at Gibson's decided it was time to redesign the J-55 into something flashier, something that the folks south of the Mason-Dixon line would like.  What they...
1940 Kalamzoo KG-12 shade top

1940 Kalamzoo KG-12 shade top

The shade top Kalamazoo KG-12 is a bit of a rare bird and was worth the time it took to find a good one.  You'll more commonly see the natural...
Rare Amplifiers: The DeArmond R5T

Rare Amplifiers: The DeArmond R5T

The 1959 DeArmond R5T may be the perfect recording amplifier if you are looking to compliment the tone of your guitar.  You could gig it but you aren't going to...
1936 Gibson Trojan

1936 Gibson Trojan

The first Trojan shipped in October of 1936 and was marked in the Gibson Shipping ledgers as "Trojan."  This guitar has now been confirmed in the old Gibson ledgers as...
The first appearance of the Epiphone Texan - c.1958

The first appearance of the Epiphone Texan - c.1958

These guitars baffled me for some time with their odd features.  I tried to get my hands on one but I just couldn't find an early example.  This 1958 Texan...
1961 Silvertone 1446L

1961 Silvertone 1446L

One of the greatest guitars Harmony (Silvertone) ever made was the 1446L commonly referred to as the "Chris Isaak" model.  Chris posed with this model for a couple of advertisements...
How to purchase a guitar at a guitar show..... a dealer's perspective

How to purchase a guitar at a guitar show..... a dealer's perspective

Guitar ShowsIf you live in a larger city (at least in the United States) then there may be a guitar show in your area once a year.  You are lucky!...